des·ig·nate
ˈde-zig-ˌnāt 
designated; designating
1
: to indicate and set apart for a specific purpose, office, or duty
designate a group to prepare a plan
2
a
: to point out the location of
a marker designating the battle
b
: to distinguish as to class (see class entry 1 sense 3)
the area we designate as that of spiritual values—
J. B. Conant
J. B. Conant3
: denote
associate names with the people they designate
4
: to call by a distinctive title, term, or expression
a particle designated the neutron
des·ig·nate
ˈde-zig-ˌnāt
-nət
: chosen but not yet installed (see install sense 2a)
ambassador designate
Synonyms
Examples of designate in a Sentence
Verb
The wooden stakes designate the edge of the building site.
the designated time for the meeting
Recent Examples on the WebGreg Allen, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
The ban on using private grants to administer elections, and that only election officials designated by law can perform tasks, take effect almost immediately.
—Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
When a region is designated this way strict environmental regulations can be implemented.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
The Southern Poverty Law Center, a progressive legal advocacy group, designated ADF as a hate group in 2016 for its opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024
The state also has designated some local charters as community schools, which the district policy does not account for.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
These advocacy initiatives bore fruit when Pulau Ubin was designated a Nature Area by the authorities in 1993.
—Anne Pinto-Rodrigues, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
The federal emergency response plan designates the Coast Guard as the lead agency for events related to potential or actual releases of oil or hazardous substances originating in navigable waterways such as the area of the Patapsco where the bridge collapsed.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Ann Arbor recently designated his home a historic site, and an effort is underway to name the local post office in his honor.
—Tom Stanton, Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024
Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024
This outlined that the district police department chief should be the person in control of the scene, should secure the administration office as a command post if possible and designate an alternate post if not, and work to communicate with other responding officers.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2024
That's why some are turning to the public domain, a set of laws that designate when movies, artwork, music, and books become free to use.
—Michael Dobuski, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2024
Instead of using each of the three colors equally throughout the space, designate one as the star and consider the others supporting players, suggests Mark Lavender, a Chicago interior designer.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
House Republicans are now taking a secret ballot vote on whether Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) should remain the speaker designate.
—WSJ, 20 Oct. 2023
States and cities have increased adaptation efforts in recent years, with projects to restore or buffer natural landscapes, manage floods, build sea walls, expand access to air conditioning, designate cooling centers and develop early warning systems for climate disasters.
—Chelsea Harvey, Scientific American, 14 Nov. 2023
As speaker designate, Johnson declined to take questions Tuesday night about his role in the attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
—Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic, 27 Oct. 2023
The House rule established after the 9/11 attacks required House speakers to designate representatives to preside over the chamber in emergencies.
—Mary Bruce, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2023
Verb
By taking them to Mar-a-Lago rather than sending them to the National Archives, his lawyers say, Trump was effectively designating them as personal.
—Greg Allen, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
The ban on using private grants to administer elections, and that only election officials designated by law can perform tasks, take effect almost immediately.
—Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
When a region is designated this way strict environmental regulations can be implemented.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
The Southern Poverty Law Center, a progressive legal advocacy group, designated ADF as a hate group in 2016 for its opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024
The state also has designated some local charters as community schools, which the district policy does not account for.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
These advocacy initiatives bore fruit when Pulau Ubin was designated a Nature Area by the authorities in 1993.
—Anne Pinto-Rodrigues, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
The federal emergency response plan designates the Coast Guard as the lead agency for events related to potential or actual releases of oil or hazardous substances originating in navigable waterways such as the area of the Patapsco where the bridge collapsed.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Ann Arbor recently designated his home a historic site, and an effort is underway to name the local post office in his honor.
—Tom Stanton, Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The weekend, the conductor leads The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra for the first time as its new music director designate, taking the podium for performances in a program that includes Brahms and Tchaikovsky.
—Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024
This outlined that the district police department chief should be the person in control of the scene, should secure the administration office as a command post if possible and designate an alternate post if not, and work to communicate with other responding officers.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2024
That's why some are turning to the public domain, a set of laws that designate when movies, artwork, music, and books become free to use.
—Michael Dobuski, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2024
Instead of using each of the three colors equally throughout the space, designate one as the star and consider the others supporting players, suggests Mark Lavender, a Chicago interior designer.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
House Republicans are now taking a secret ballot vote on whether Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) should remain the speaker designate.
—WSJ, 20 Oct. 2023
States and cities have increased adaptation efforts in recent years, with projects to restore or buffer natural landscapes, manage floods, build sea walls, expand access to air conditioning, designate cooling centers and develop early warning systems for climate disasters.
—Chelsea Harvey, Scientific American, 14 Nov. 2023
As speaker designate, Johnson declined to take questions Tuesday night about his role in the attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
—Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic, 27 Oct. 2023
The House rule established after the 9/11 attacks required House speakers to designate representatives to preside over the chamber in emergencies.
—Mary Bruce, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'designate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing designate
Dictionary Entries Near designate
Cite this Entry
“Designate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designate. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
designate
verb
des·ig·nate
ˈdez-ig-ˌnāt
designated; designating
1
: to appoint or choose by name for a special purpose
designate someone as team captain
2
: to mark or point out : indicate
3
: to call by name or title
Etymology
Verb
from Latin designatus, past participle of designare "to choose for a purpose," from de- "down, from" and signare "to mark, mark out, sign, stamp with a seal," from signum "mark, sign, image" — related to sign
More from Merriam-Webster on designate
Nglish: Translation of designate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of designate for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share